The Most Perfect Love

Friday, January 8, 2015
Song of Solomon 4:9-15 KJV

9 Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, [my] spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck. 10 How fair is thy love, my sister, [my] spouse! how much better is thy love than wine! and the smell of thine ointments than all spices! 11 Thy lips, O [my] spouse, drop [as] the honeycomb: honey and milk [are] under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments [is] like the smell of Lebanon. 12 A garden inclosed [is] my sister, [my] spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed. 13 Thy plants [are] an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard, 14 Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices: 15 A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What does the Beloved write about the one He loves? (v.9-15)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
2) What do you love and appreciate most about your spouse?

LIFE LESSONS
3) The love between a husband and wife is one of the Lord's greatest gifts to humanity.

Perfect Sacrifice

Saturday, December 12, 2015
1 John 4:9-16 KJV

9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. 13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son [to be] the Saviour of the world. 15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) How was the love of God manifested toward us? Why? (v.9)
2) How did God demonstrate His love for us? (v.10, 14)
3) Since God so loved us, what are we to do for others? (v.11)
4) How do we abide in God's love and how is it perfected in us? (v.12-13)
5) How do we know that we abide in the love of God and that God abides in us? (v.15,16)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
6) How do you know that you abide in God and that His love indwells you?

LIFE LESSONS
7) Our love for others is evidence that the love of God abides within us.

Filled with the Fullness of God

Saturday, May 30, 2015
Ephesians 3:14-21 KJV

14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what [is] the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him [be] glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What were the reasons that the Apostle Paul prayed for those believers who would read this epistle? (v.14-19)
2) What is our Lord Jesus able to do? (v.20)
3) What was the apostle's benediction for this passage of Scripture? (v.21)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
4) Are you filled with the fullness of Christ and do you have any idea how much the Lord loves you?

LIFE LESSONS
5) To share the love of Christ with others, we must be filled with His love for us.

Be On Your Guard

Sunday, April 26, 2015
2 John 1:1-13 KJV

1 The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth; 2 For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever. 3 Grace be with you, mercy, [and] peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. 4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. 5 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. 6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. 7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. 9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into [your] house, neither bid him God speed: 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. 12 Having many things to write unto you, I would not [write] with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full. 13 The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) Who did the Apostle John write this epistle to? (v.1a)
2) What does the apostle write concerning his love for the reader(s) of this letter and his reason(s) for writing the letter? (v.1b-2)
3) What blessing(s) does the apostle extol to the reader(s) of this epistle? (v.3)
4) Why was the apostle rejoicing? (v.4)
5) What does the apostle urge the reader(s) of this letter to do? (v.5)
6) What does the Apostle John tell the readers that love is and when did the readers receive the commandment to love? (v.6)
7) Why is John reiterating this commandment? (v.7a)
8) Who are the deceivers and anti-Christ)? (v.7b)
9) What does the apostle encourage the reader(s) to do and why? (v.8)
10) What does John tell us concerning those who keep the commandment of love, and those who do not? (v.9)
11) What does the apostle tell his readers to refrain from doing for those who do not follow the commandment of love and why? (v.10-11)
12) What else does the Apostle John tell the readers of this letter? (v.12-13)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
13) How loving are you toward the members of the household of faith? 
14) Who in your local church body are you unable, or unwilling to love with the love of the Lord?

LIFE LESSONS
15) The Lord's command to love one another, as He loved us, is not an option, or a suggestion, for a true follower of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Since God Loved Us So Much

Saturday, April 18, 2015
1John 4:7-12 KJV

7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What does John the beloved suggest that followers of Christ do? Why? (v.7)
2) What does the apostle write concerning those who do not love others? (v.8)
3) How was the love of God manifested toward us? Why? (v.9)
4) Why did God send His Son to be the sacrifice for our sins? (v.10)
5) What should we do because God has loved us? (v.11)
6) What is love for others proof of? (v.12)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
7) Is there anyone in your life that you are unable to love with the love of the Lord?

LIFE LESSONS
8) The Father loved sinful people so much that He sent His Son to save us.
9) When the Holy Spirit in fills us, we will love others with the same love that God has for them.

Love Made Possible by the Spirit

Sunday, April 12, 2015
1 John 3:11-24 KJV 

11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 Not as Cain, [who] was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. 13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. 14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not [his] brother abideth in death. 15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 16 Hereby perceive we the love [of God], because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down [our] lives for the brethren. 17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels [of compassion] from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. 20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, [then] have we confidence toward God. 22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. 24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What is the message that the readers heard from the beginning? (v.11)
2) Who did the Apostle John use as an example of one who did not love his brother? (v.12a)
3) Why does the world hate Christians? (v.12b-13)
4) How do we know that we have passed from death to life? (v.14a)
5) What does John write about those who do not love the brethren? (v.14b-15)
6) Why should we lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters in Christ? (v.16)
7) How do we assure our hearts before God and know that we are of the truth? (v.17-19)
8) What enables us to have confidence toward God and to have our prayers answered? (v.20-22)
9) What has God commanded us to do? How? (v.23-24) 

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
10) How do you know that you have eternal life?
11) Who, or what, enables you to keep the Lord's command to love your brothers and sisters in Christ?

LIFE LESSONS
12) The indwelling Holy Spirit enables us to live a life of love.

A New Commandment

Saturday, April 11, 2015
John 13:31-35 KJV 

31 Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him. 33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you. 34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all [men] know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) After our Lord had washed the disciples feet and Judas left the room, what did Jesus say to the rest of the disciples? (v.31-33)
2) What new commandment did Jesus give His disciples? (v.34)
3) How would others know that Jesus' followers were His disciples? (v.35)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
4) Are you one of Christ's disciples? How do others know?

LIFE LESSONS
5) A follower of Christ is not simply one who professes belief in the Lord Jesus, but one who loves others as He does.

Those Who do not Love

Friday, April 10, 2015
1 John 3:6-10 KJV 

6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. 7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What does the Apostle John say about those who continually practice sin? (v.6,8a)
2) What does he say about those whose acts are righteous? (v.7)
3) What does John write about the devil? (v.8b)
4) Why did our Lord Jesus manifest on earth the first time that He lived among humans? (v.8c)
5) What can one born of God not do and why not? (v.9)
6) How are the children of God and the children of the devil manifested? (v.10)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
7) Do you willfully and continually sin? If so, will you confess your sins to the Father, repent of your sin, and ask the Lord to forgive you?

LIFE LESSONS
8) Our Lord died on the cross and rose again so that we would no longer be slaves to sin.
9) Those who willfully practice sin have not been born of God.

Loved to the End

Wednesday, April 8, 2015
John 13:1-15 KJV

[Jhn 13:1-15 KJV] 1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. 2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's [son], to betray him; 3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; 4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. 5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe [them] with the towel wherewith he was girded. 6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? 7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. 8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. 9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also [my] hands and [my] head. 10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash [his] feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. 11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. 12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? 13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for [so] I am. 14 If I then, [your] Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What did our Lord know and do before the feast of passover? (v.1)
2) What manifested in Judas heart during and/or after supper was ended? (v.2)
3) What did Jesus do for His disciples and why? (v.3-5)
4) What was Simon Peter's response to what the Lord did for him? (v.6, 8a,9)
5) What did the Lord say to Peter? Why? (v.7, 8b, 10-11)
6) What happened after Jesus finished ministering to His disciples? (v.12-15)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
7) Have you ever had to serve someone in church, or at home, that had been unkind to you? What was your attitude of heart as you ministered to them?

LIFE LESSONS
8) The best response to offense is forgiveness because our Lord forgave us.

Put on the Lord Jesus Christ

Friday, February 20, 2015
Romans 13:8-14 KJV 

8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if [there be] any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love [is] the fulfilling of the law. 11 And that, knowing the time, that now [it is] high time to awake out of sleep: for now [is] our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to [fulfil] the lusts [thereof].

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What is the one thing that we "owe" our brothers and sisters in Christ? Why? (v.8)
2) What is the single command in Scripture that fulfills all of the commandments of the Lord? (v.9-10)
3) What three (3) things are we to do in this last hour and  why? (v.11-12)
4) How else shall we live and what else shall we do? Why? (v.13-14)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
5) What do you do to manifest the Love of Christ to others?

LIFE LESSONS
6) To manifest the love of Christ to others, we must not yield to the lusts of our fleshly, or carnal, nature.
7) To manifest the love of Christ to others, believers must be infilled with, and led by, the Holy Spirit.

Love God With All Your Heart

Thursday, February 5, 2015
Deuteronomy 6:1-8 KJV 

1 Now these [are] the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do [them] in the land whither ye go to possess it: 2 That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged. 3 Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do [it]; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey. 4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God [is] one LORD: 5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) Why did the Lord give commandments to His people? (v.1-3)
2) What did the Lord say about Himself and how His people are to respond to Him? Why? (v.4-5)
3) What were the people of God to do with the Lord's commands? (v.6-8)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
4) How much do you love the Lord? Why?
5) What do you do to remain obedient to the word (will) of the Lord? Why?

LIFE LESSONS
6) Our love for the Lord is demonstrated by our obedience to His word (will).
7) We remain obedient to God by hiding His word in our hearts and teaching our children to do the same.
8) Obedience to the Lord leads to His blessing over our lives.

Show Proof of your Love

Thursday, August 28, 2014
2 Corinthians 8:16-24  

16 But thanks [be] to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you. 
17 For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you. 
18 And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise [is] in the gospel throughout all the churches; 
19 And not [that] only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and [declaration of] your ready mind: 
20 Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us: 
21 Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. 
22 And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which [I have] in you. 
23 Whether [any do enquire] of Titus, [he is] my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren [be enquired of, they are] the messengers of the churches, [and] the glory of Christ. 
24 Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What is the Apostle Paul thanking God for in these verses? (v.16-17)
2) Who went with Titus to the Church at Corinth? (v.18a)
3) What was this person who was chosen by the churches to accompany Titus like?  (v.18b)
4) Who else was he chosen to accompany as they took an offering to Jerusalem? (v.19)
5) What did the Apostle Paul and his traveling companions attempt to avoid, and to provide, as they delivered the offering to Christians in Jerusalem? (v.20-21)
6) What was the second brother like who accompanied the apostles to Jerusalem? (v.22)
7) How was the church at Corinth to respond if asked about Titus or the brothers who went to Jerusalem with the Apostle Paul? (v.23)
8) What would their response to the churches, concerning their brethren, prove? (v.24)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
9) Have you ever been responsible for collecting and delivering a large sum of money to another believer, church, or ministry outside your own local church? If so, what if anything did you do to ensure that what you did was not called into question?
10) When placed in a position that could potentially tempt, or cause, you to sin what safeguards have (would) you put in place to "avoid the very appearance of evil"?
11) When dealing with sensitive issues, that could cast dispersion on you, or your church, what type of people would (do) you surround yourself with?

PRINCIPLES
12) Bad company corrupts good morals.
13) God is glorified when His people handle His business in ways that are above reproach.
14) Our love for the Lord is proven through our conduct, our conversation, and our character.

Walking in Truth and Love

Friday, August 15, 2014
2 John 1:1-9

1 The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth; 
2 For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever. 
3 Grace be with you, mercy, [and] peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. 
4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. 
5 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. 
6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. 
7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 
8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. 
9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) Who was the Apostle John writing to in this epistle? (v.1)
2) What shall abide (dwell) in us forever? (v.2)
3) What attributes of God does the apostle greet his readers with? (v.3)
4) What has God commanded His children to do, according to the Apostle John? (v.4)
5) What "new commandment" did the apostle remind his readers about? (v.5)
6) How are we to manifest the love of God toward our brothers and sisters? (v.6)
7) Who does the Apostle John remind us is in this world? (v.7)
8) Why should we examine our hearts? (v.8)
9) Who has the Father and the Son? Who does not? (v.9)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
10) Is the love of God manifested through your life? Why, or why not?
11) Has there ever been a time when you have disobeyed God's will? If so, what happened?
12) What do you do to remain obedient to the Father's will, regardless the consequences?

PRINCIPLES
13) Who we belong to is evident through our actions.
14) It is easy to declare our love for God, but not so easy to demonstrate it in all we do.
15) The proof that we belong to God is our love for Him and for His people.